Device for emptying truck boxes



A. L. KORPELA DEVICE FOR EMPTYING TRUCK BOXES Aug. 17, 1954 Filed Feb. 8, 1950 2 Sheets-'Sheet-l INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 17, 1954 A, KORPELA 2,686,693

DEVICE FOR EMPTYING TRUCK BOXES Filed Feb. 8, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR flrZhz zwLkZZrpeZa ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 17, 1954 UNITED STATEfi s ATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for emptying the boxes of trucks or trailers such as are used in the hauling of grain or like commodities.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a device of the type stated which, when mounted at the bottom of a truck box, will normally serve to contain the grain efiiciently and without leakage, but which, when it is desired to unload the box, is capable of being swiftly opened throughout its entire length, for rapid emptying of the contents of the box.

Another important object is to provide a construction for a device of the type stated which is capable of being readily mounted upon the bottoms of truck boxes already in use.

Still another object is to provide a device as described embodying means which will eihciently serve to prevent the dribble of granular material from the truck body during its transportation.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing Fig. 1 is a top plan View of an unloading device formed in accordance with the invention, portions being broken away, the dotted lines indicating a withdrawn position of a detent.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the device as seen from the left of Fig. 1, the dotted lines indicating an unlocking position of the handles of the look ing flanges.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view, the dotted lines indicating a Withdrawn position of a spreader 112831115.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. l, the broken lines indicating the open position of the doors.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section also taken on line 55 of Fig. l, the parts being shown in position to permit emptying of the truck box.

Referring to the drawing in detail, I provide a rectangular frame I formed from a plurality of inwardly faced channel members welded or herwise ri ly connected together at their ends to def ne a frame of box-like configuration adaptd. to be r g d y s ured to the bottom of a truck Rigidly secured to and upstanding from the opposite ends of the box frame I are upwardly tapering vertical, transversely disposed end supports 2 to the inner surfaces of which are rigidly secured a pair of upwardly converging stop flange 3 formed from angle iron material or the like.

Having its ends mounted in the respective end supports 2 and extending longitudinally and centrally of and above the box frame I is the elongated hinge pin 4. Hung upon the pin 4 are the spaced hinge barrels 5 formed along the upper longitudinal edge of the door 6, that extends from end to end of the box frame.

Also mounted upon the pin i for swinging movement intermediate the hinge barrels 5 are the hinge barrels 7 formed upon the upper longitudinal edge of the door 8.

Rigidly secured to the opposite ends of the door 6 are the angle iron flanges 9, which end flanges 9 of said door 6 will engage under the flange 3 at each end of th box, when the door 6 is in closed. position. The door 8 has similar flanges it, and the flanges 9 and i8, cooperating with the flanges 3 overlying said flanges Q and it,

prevent leakage of material through the space between the ends of the doors and the supports 2, when the doors are in closed position.

When the doors are in closed position, they converge upwardly to the hinge pin 4, as readily seen from the full lines in Fig. 5.

Underlying the doors and extending longitudinally and centrally through the box frame i is the supporting bar H which in the present instance is formed from angle iron material and is rigidly secured at its ends to the ends of the box frame. This bar provides a support for a plurality of horizontally swinging spreader bars 12 spaced longitudinally of the box frame, each of these being pivotally mounted at its center upon the supporting bar I i for horizontal swinging movement in either direction. All the spreader bars l2 are pivotally connected to an operating bar or rod is, which thus links the spreader bars for joint operation.

The opposite ends of each spreader bar, as readily seen from Fig. 5, are formed as yokes it in which are mounted rollers 15 enga eable with the respective doors 6 and 8.

It will be appreciated that when the spreader bars ii are in the dotted line positions of Fig. l, they do not act to spread the doors 6 and 8 to the full line Dositirms n'F Fi 5 TUhnh ammo Aug. 1954 R. A. CRANSKTON 2,687,180

METHOD OF EXTINGUISHING BURNING FLAMMABLE VAPORS Filed Dec. 31, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F IG.2 INVENTOR: ROBERT A. CRANSTON, DECEASED BY MARGARET s. CRANSTON, ADMINISTRATRIX 

